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Buy & Sell Paper, Envelopes and more…Sun, 18 Mar 2018 12:09:16 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/cropped-brokencartons_box-32x32.jpegBrokenCartonshttp://www.brokencartons.com/blog
3232Celebrating Women’s History Month: Five Women You’ve Probably Never Heard of Who Have Made Conservation Historyhttp://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=209
http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=209#respondSun, 18 Mar 2018 12:01:52 +0000http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=209[...]]]>While April is Earth Month, March is Women’s History Month, so we believe that it’s more than appropriate to shed the spotlight on five incredible women who are working to protect the environment.

Rachel Carson (1907 – 1964)

American marine biologist Rachel Carson called attention to the dangers of indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides while also helping to launch the modern environmental movement through the publication of Silent Springin 1962, which is considered one of the twentieth century’s most influential works of non-fiction.

While Carson began her career in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, however when her writing became extremely popular, she began writing about science full time. Her writing fueled public interest in a variety of environmental and public health issues and within years after the publishing of her book, the Nixon Administration formed the Environmental Protection Agency.

Isatou Ceesay (b. 1972)

Born and raised in Gambia, Isatou, Ceesay was forced to drop out of school at a very young age. Regardless of the lack of education, she was able to receive, Ceesay was still very much aware of the negative environmental changes taking place around her. Ceesay noticed all of the plastic bags in her town that were gathering trash, injuring animals and plants, etc. The thought of the woven baskets her community uses came to the mind of Ceesay, and an idea was formed.

In 1997, Ceesay founded the Njau Recycling and Income Generation Group, which is a community recycling initiative that allows women to collect recyclable materials found around the area, bring them to a center and turn the wasteful and harmful materials into items such as purses, bags, etc. Ceesay is known as the “Queen of Recycling in The Gambia” and not only is she working to save the environment, she has also allowed over 100 women to gain income from her recycling effort. Check out her program at OnePlasticBag.com.

Wangari Maathai (1940 – 2011)

After being one of 300 Kenyan women to be given the opportunity to attend university in the United States for the Airlift Africa program in 1960, Maathai was able to complete her master’s degree in biology. Following the completion of her degree, Maathai returned to Kenya with a brand new perspective regarding the environment.

Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement to teach Kenyan women the art of planting new trees in areas where deforestation was a problem. The new trees being planted not only help the environment, but also bring in income. Since Maathai’s movement was created, 30,000 women have risen from poverty and the movement has also planted over 51 million trees. Maathai received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 and was the first African woman to ever receive the award.

Kate Sessions (1857 – 1940)

Being environmentally friendly doesn’t just mean protecting natural spaces. Being environmentally friendly also means thinking of new ways to create green spaces in the areas we live in. Sessions grew up and spent most of her time in northern California with very tall trees! In 1881, she became the first woman to graduate from the University of California with a science degree.

Shortly after graduating, she moved to San Diego, a very dry city at the time with almost no plants. In 1885, Sessions arranged a lease of 30 acres of land in City Park, now known as Balboa Park, from the city in exchange for planting 100 trees a year in the park, and 300 trees a year in the rest of San Diego. Sessions is known as “the Mother of Balboa Park,” and her parks are still alive and flourishing throughout the city today.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas (1890 – 1998)

For years, the Everglades were considered a swap of no worth. However, when Douglas moved to Miami, Florida as a young woman, she saw something different– beautiful, growing ecosystems that were all in need of help and all worthy of our attention and protection. Along with that, the Everglades also provided Florida with most of its clean water.

“There are no other Everglades in the world,” she wrote in her 1947 book The Everglades: River of Grass, a book that has been compared to Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring for its impact on our popular opinions of the environment. Douglas worked as an activist to save the Everglades and to educate people on the Everglades as well. Florida’s Governor Lawton Chiles said, “[Marjory] was not just a pioneer of the environmental movement, she was a prophet, calling out to us to save the environment for our children and our grandchildren.” People believe that if it weren’t for Douglas’ activism, The Everglades would have died.

While these are only five women who have made a serious impact on the world and the environment, the list goes on. This #WomensHistoryMonth, let’s focus on celebrating the women who are helping the environment and working every single day to make the planet a better place!

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]]>http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=2090Why everyone should stick with a paper plannerhttp://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=176
http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=176#respondMon, 01 May 2017 00:00:46 +0000http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=176[...]]]>The Google Calendar, Reminders Application, along with the many other websites and applications that can be used to help you plan your day can be very useful. Along with that, not having to worry about carrying around a paper planner everywhere seems to make life sound much easier. However, did you ever think about trading in your smartphone applications for an actual paper planner?

When smartphones weren’t a thing, paper planners were so in. Writing down you weekly activities, meetings, dinner dates and so on was the thing to do. Along with that, many people weren’t shy with getting creative in their planners, adding doodles and sketches to the pages to make their planners more exciting. With the rise of smartphone popularity only increasing as the days go on, paper planners are slowly fading from existence. However, there are many benefits to using a paper planner that a smartphone may not give you– even though it seems much more quick and convenient to type out your plans and input the time and date to receive a reminder when needed. As convenient as a digital planner is, don’t believe what anyone tells you– planners are NOT obsolete.

1. The Act of Writing Helps You To Remember

There have been a number of studies done proving that the act of writing things down allows you to remember and learn things much more efficiently than typing them out. Whether it’s writing out your weekly schedule, or writing down meetings or dinner dates you can’t forget to attend, you are more likely to remember where you have to be and when if you write it down, rather than type it. As convenient as a reminder that pops up on your phone seems, not having to depend on your smartphone for one less thing seems enticing, doesn’t it?

2. Your Planner Can Turn Into Your Journal

Keeping digital record of your life, whether it be an online journal, a website, or a blog often has a lot of upkeep. Along with that, if your computer crashes, or somehow you lose all of the beloved information stored on your computer, smartphone and/or other digital device, you’ll be saying bye-bye to all of your memories! Using a planner is not only beneficial to remembering where to go and what to do when, it’s also helpful for those who are stressed, anxious, or just enjoy journaling in general. Writing down how you feel, or how simply your day went allows you to blow some steam in a healthy way. Use pages in your planner to write about your day: jot down a sentence highlighting the day, track your water intake, caloric intake, and log your exercise, create a mood board and write how you’re feeling everyday, etc, etc, etc. The options are endless! Journaling just isn’t the same on your phone…So pick up your planner and get to writing!

3. Everything Is Just As Accessible

In a generation full of smartphones, smart tv’s, and even smart homes, having our devices on us at all times is almost a must for most of us. However, carrying around paper planner makes things just as accessible, if not more accessible, than depending on your smartphone to remind you when to do what. Sure, your calendar app can show you what you have to do on what days, but you can’t exactly see every single little thing at once. With a paper planner, you are able to look at your weekly/monthly schedule, along with your to-do list, and any other list that you made in your planner! If you’re thinking of something you need, or something you need to do, open up your planner and write it down! You don’t have to worry about doing anything technical, or worse, your phone dying. Using a paper planner can save you the trouble of having to invest in or carry around a portable charger everywhere. Instead, use your smartphone for the simple things– texting, phone calls, internet, etc. Along with that, whether you’re in the office or at home, your planner can sit in front of you every single day– there’s no escaping it!

Don’t depend on your phone to guide you through your life, start relying on yourself! Head over to BrokenCartons.com to purchase a notepad to plan your daily activities, or even find the perfect paper– create your own planner today!

]]>http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1760True or False: Only Recycled Paper Should Be Used…http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=181
http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=181#respondSat, 01 Apr 2017 00:00:16 +0000http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=181[...]]]>There are many myths and facts behind the whole “recycled paper” trend. Some say that recycled paper is the only type of paper that should be used. Others stand with the opposing side, arguing that recycling paper requires much more energy to make than it does making regular paper. We’re here to give you the truth, and the lies!

1. True of false:Making recycled paper requires more energy than it does to make non-recycled paper.

Answer: False

Right off the bat, you may think that this is true. If you look at the paper making process alone, making paper from waste paper requires a bit more energy than it does to make paper from trees. However, this is because waste paper comes from pulp, not trees– and pulp does require a bit extra cleaning. However, if we take into consideration the amount of energy turning wood chips into pulp requires, making recycled paper uses 50% less energy than using trees!

2. True of false:Making recycled paper causes more pollution than making non-recycled paper.

Answer: False

Making recycled paper requires 50% less energy, water, and chemicals than making non-recycled paper does, and it also reduces emissions. Pulping paper, bleaching it, and manufacturing it overall requires much more chemicals and is often much more polluting than it does to make recycled paper.

3. True of false:Trees are a renewable resource, therefore, using them to make paper is not harmful

Answer: True and False

Provided that trees are grown in a sustainable environment, and in an ecologically responsible way, trees have the ability to be a valuable source of raw material for making paper. Using fertilizers and other chemicals when growing trees as a “cash crop” damage the environment, and make the use of trees for paper-making harmful.

4. True of false:Recycled paper is always poor quality.

Answer: False

Thanks to technology, the quality of recycled paper has most definitely improved over the last few decades. Recycled paper is often distinguishable from non-recycled paper, however the quality of the paper always depends on the type of paper, the handling and care of the paper, and what sort of inks the printer uses on the paper. Whether you’re purchasing recycled paper or non-recycled paper, BrokenCartons.com is the way to go for all of your paper needs. No matter the quantity, BrokenCartons has your back!

]]>http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1810Paper as an Instrument of Peacehttp://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=158
http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=158#respondMon, 20 Feb 2017 03:22:23 +0000http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=158[...]]]>Paper as an Instrument of Peace

James Madison, the fourth president of the United States was also known as the man who wrote the document that formed the first model for The Constitution. It was officially signed on September 17th, 1787. The first 10 amendments of The Constitution are also known as The Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights protects the rights and liberties of an individual, giving the government certain powers only.

Following The Constitution was The Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence was written by multiple people, including Thomas Jefferson, the primary writer, along with Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, John Adams, and Robert R. Livingston– John Adams and Thomas Jefferson served as our second and third president of the United States. On July 4th, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed.

The Constitution was primarily written to overall establish America’s government and guarantee citizens certain rights. The Declaration of Independence was written to explain why the citizens wanted independence. These two documents are two of hundreds of documents that helped establish the great nation that we live in today.

However, did you ever stop and think about what these documents were written on? To kill your curiosity, The Constitution, The Declaration of Independence, and The Bill of Rights were written on parchment paper–typically sheepskin, and are all being held in the National Archives.

These three documents are the first few documents that hold our country together. These are the three documents that our countries ruling is based off of, and has been based off of from the beginning. However, it is common for the way that these documents were written to go under-appreciated. Now and days, everything is typed up and archived on the computer. What ever happened to keeping paper copies? It’s hard to stay up to date with modern day technology, while sticking to our old ways. Documents like these should never go under-appreciated– nor should the type of paper they were written on.

In this hard time our nation is facing, no matter which side you are for, let us never forget the importance of these documents (written on paper) and the men that helped write them. February 20th, or President’s Day, is the day we remember and honor all of our prior presidents, and celebrate the American presidency as a whole.

The Constitutions, The Declaration of Independence, and The Bill of Rights are all documents that hold our country together. These three documents helped begin this great nation. In these times of trouble, let us not forget that paper is an instrument of peace. And although you are not reading this post on parchment paper, you can still purchase that, and everything that fits your paper needs at BrokenCartons.com!

]]>http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1580True or False: Paper is Bad for the Environment…http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=172
http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=172#respondSun, 01 Jan 2017 12:03:53 +0000http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=172[...]]]>The fact of the matter is, paper is not bad for the environment, paper is actually one of the few truly sustainable products out there.

From notepads to magazines to packaging, most of us can’t go throughout the day without coming in contact with at least one type of paper product. So, why is it that most people are turning their backs on paper? School’s are encouraging students to use E-Readers rather than textbooks, and laptops rather than notebooks– why?

Recent misleading environmental claims create bad publicity for paper. However, what most people don’t understand is that paper isn’t the one to blame for environmental issues. In fact, paper may be the exact opposite of a culprit, paper may help offer a solution. Clearing the confusion amongst people is the first step– so do yourself a favor and keep reading!

People use paper every single day. As we all know, paper comes from trees. As trees grow, they absorb CO2 from the air. Since most paper comes from wood, which is a natural, renewable, and sustainable material, paper continues to store carbon throughout its lifetime–just as trees do. Paper doesn’t destroy forests. In fact, the paper industry has many respectable and trustworthy certifications that ensure your paper is coming from a sustainable forest source. Don’t get it twisted, paper helps sustain forrest life.

Since paper is portable, permanent, consistent, and 100% recyclable, people who make paper are taking the first step to protecting our forests and reducing energy consumption. Although the process of making paper does consume a lot of energy, certified paper companies commit to reducing the amount of energy that is put into making paper by using renewable energy sources rather than emitting greenhouse gases when using fossil fuels, oil and coal, making the process much more energy efficient.

Who doesn’t like to save money? In everyday expenses, sometimes it’s hard to save money on things you need in your everyday life. There are many ways to save money not only when purchasing paper, but also when storing it, printing it, recycling it, and disposing it. Every little tip below adds up over time, so why not start reducing paper consumption today? Here are some of the best ways to save money and paper– at the same time!

1. Shift To Lightweight Paper

Thick paper feels great, and looks even better. However, shifting to a much more lightweight paper, compared to constantly using card stock, will not only save you money, but also save you space. Although some projects do look and feel better on a heavier paper, sticking to lighter paper is more beneficial to not only the environment, but also your pockets!

2. Think Before You Print

You read correct– think before you print. Before printing something, at home or anywhere else, ask yourself; “Is printing a copy of this necessary?”

Consider what you will be using this hard copy for, how long you will be using it for, and what you will do with it when you’re done. Will you forget about this next week? Or are you going to store it for safe keeping, and look back at it when needed? Save money and space by printing less of the things you don’t need. Always print responsibly.

3. Take Advantage Of Technology

In today’s digital age, technology is constantly advancing, and only becoming much more accessible and easy to use for almost everyone. Take advantage of the digital, paperless world when typing up documents, storing information, and organizing important things in your life. Using technology such as online forums, cloud storage, and management softwares will not only save you money, but also allow you to work much more efficiently, and live a more productive, organized life.

4. Double-sided? Yes Please!

When the preview for your soon-to-be printed document pops up, click “Print Double-Sided.” Automatically, you are reducing your paper consumption by half. Paper that is printed double-sided can also be recycled for cash, earning you some extra cash in your pocket!

5. Small Margins & Even Smaller Font

Small margins and small font sizes automatically save you space on your document. Cutting your margins down will allow you to fit more on a single page, along with changing the size of your font. With a smaller, more simpler font, the information on your document will look much more clean and clear, and also allow you to fit more information on a single page.

6. Review Before Printing

Your computer doesn’t ask you multiple times if you’d like to print something for no reason. The preview option before printing is there for a reason– so take advantage of it! Prior to printing your document, proof read it, check for spelling or layout errors, and even make adjustments where you see necessary. Not only will you be saving money and paper, you will also be saving ink, energy, and time, rather than re-printing the same document over and over again until it’s perfect.

7. Print Black And White

Although some projects do look better in color, black and white doesn’t look too bad either! Printing in black and white saves you ink, and money. When printing out documents that you know you wont use for too long, or simple just a document to remember something, using the black and white setting will save you ink and toner in the long run.

8. Recycle Old Paper

Have a bunch of old documents sitting around the house? Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Rather than simply throwing away your old documents and flyers sitting around the house, recycle all of your paper in a specific bin or bag that can be kept in your house. Not only are you saving paper, but you’re also saving space.

9. Reuse Old Paper

Have some old documents with a blank side? Re-use this paper when printing up new documents. You will not only be saving money, but also space, ink and energy. Rather than printing on a brand new, blank sheet of paper, save yourself some money by using your old documents to print out new ones.

Paper is usually sold in ”full cartons.” When a job requires a small amount of a certain paper, or a “broken carton,” you may get stuck buying an entire carton. However, with BrokenCartons.com, members are able to buy and sell discounted paper, envelopes, packaging, and more– in big or small quantities. Start saving money on BrokenCartons.com today!

The art of using paper to benefit humanity takes up a huge part of our history as a whole. Not only does the use of paper in ways other than writing serve as an example of creativity, it also exemplifies the persistence of humanity and our ongoing effort to preserve, reuse, and recycle as many recourses as we can.

Paper is a fundamental when it comes to the production of money, and the conservation of many important documents that hold our country together, dating back to as early as 179 B.C. Not only that, but it has also been a way of spreading news and information around towns, after Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press allowed the mass production of newspapers to take place.

We see paper more during our daily lives than we even notice. See a tree? We use them to make paper. See a book? Paper. Take a look at one of your latest shopping bags, or maybe even one of your lunch bags that you were just about to throw away. Would be you believe that the origination of the paper bag goes all the way back to 1852?

In 1852, schoolteacher Francis Wolle invented the first machine ever seen that mass- produced paper bags. When his invention soon became a success, him and his brother founded the Union Paper Bag Company and patented the machine. Fast forward to 1871, when Margaret E. Knight created a machine to not only produce paper bags, but flat bottom ones at that. These bags were known to carry much more than the original envelope style ones. Paper bags envoled even more In 1883, when Charles Stillwell created a machine that produced flat, square bottom paper bags with pleated sides, making them easier to fold. In 1912, the idea to add a carrying handle was initiated by Walter Deubener, a grocer.

Brown paper bags, even today, are usually made from kraft paper, and are manufactured with a single layer of paper. However, paper bags today can be made of recycled paper as well. More than just paper bags, paper in general contributes to so many things that we take for granted today.

I know what you’re thinking– where would we be without paper bags? Ask yourself an even better question; where would we be without paper? Whether it’s papyrus or rice paper, cover or cotton bond, you can find exactly what you need to fulfill your paper needs, only on BrokenCartons.com!

]]>http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1410Is the Chinese Takeout Box Actually American?http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=131
http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=131#respondThu, 01 Sep 2016 04:07:51 +0000http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=131[...]]]>The Chinese takeout container, otherwise known as an oyster pail, seems to be the most commonly used box for takeout Chinese food. However, what many people do not know is that this “Chinese” takeout container is rarely used in China, and other Asian countries with a high number of ethnic Chinese.

The earliest patent of the Chinese takeout container dates back to as early as 1894, when Frederick Weeks Wilcox patented his version of the Chinese takeout container, which he calls the “paper pail.” The paper pail was known as a single piece of paper, creased and folded into a leakproof container that was made with a wire handle on the top to stay secure. This invention was soon used as a means of collecting fresh oysters before shucking them, or removing the meat from their shells. These containers were the cheapest and most sanitary way to keep oysters fresh after catching them, hence why it is also known as an “oyster pail.”

These takeout containers were known to hold other materials such as honey, when the oyster pails weren’t selling as fast as usual. However, after World War II in the United States, take-out, other wise known as “fast food” started to gain popularity. Many people were picking up pre-cooked meals from restaurants, to take out and eat in the comfort of their own home. Chinese food became one of the most popular, in the shortest amount of time. Soon, these “oyster pails” became Chinese takeout boxes, as they were self-insulating and kept foods like chicken and rice warm.

Although these Chinese takeout containers are used for a variety of things now and days, prior to recently, these so called “Chinese” containers are actually more American than you probably thought! Though these pails may be inexpensive to buy, who doesn’t love a little DIY every now and then? By clicking here you can find the link to a printable template of a Chinese takeout box, and directions on how to fold it! And, while you’re at it, why not visit BrokenCartons.com to pick out your paper?

Paper not only beats rock, but also beats mobile! The popularity amongst media advertisements has seemed to be growing rapidly over the past few years.

Every day, we become even more involved in creating the next digital revolution. With everything at easy access to buyers, simply by the click of the button via your smartphone, computer, tablet, or what have you, advertisements are beginning to appear everywhere.

Recent research has showed that printed ads are reaching more consumers than mobile ads sent through email, social media, etc. The more you think about it, the more this seems to be true. Although advertisements appear almost everywhere on the internet, many people tend to ignore them. Most buyers tend to install ad blockers on their computers, canceling out any advertisements that may have previously shown up on their smartphone or browser. Or worse, after receiving unwanted amounts of junk mail, advertising new products daily, unsubscribing from many email newsletters is also more common than ever.

Advertisements should be helpful, eye-catching, and practical– no one wants to have their newsfeed or inbox bombarded with what they should buy and why they should buy it. Buyers buy at their own convenience, and if something else is recommended to them, then so be it. As internet users and buyers, we should not be pressured to purchasing and constant advertisements being shoved in our face.

These facts support the idea that the digital age will not be putting an end to the print age anytime soon. Whether rock, paper, or scissors, paper will always find a way to win!

]]>http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=1130Paper Airplaneshttp://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=106
http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=106#respondFri, 01 Jul 2016 23:43:56 +0000http://www.brokencartons.com/blog/?p=106[...]]]>There is not much history on the origin of paper airplanes, and to this day it still remains a mystery as to where they originated from. However, we could assume that the idea of the paper airplane might have come from the first pages of papyrus being thrown around. Though, it is almost impossible to pinpoint the exact date that the first paper airplane was constructed, or even flown.

Kites originated in China about 200 years ago, and soon became the first sort of gadgets that used paper– and were able to fly! Early hot air balloons and basic balloons that were made in the late 1700’s were made using paper, as well.

Although the true history of the paper airplane remains a mystery, the origin of the paper airplane can be pointed back to the earliest reference of one, by Jack Northrop. Jack Northrop was an American aircraft industrialist and designer, who used the crafting of a paper airplane to help shape ideas for flying wing airplanes.

Looking at this in the bigger picture, Northrop’s use of the paper airplane model’s he created helped him create a corporation, later named the Lockheed Corporation. This corporation eventually led to the creation of the B-2 stealth bomber.

The use of the paper airplane to create a model for real aircraft’s is fascinating. We can thank the development of the paper airplane for the improvements in real winged airplanes, including but not limited to velocity, performance, security, style, and fashion.

Envisioning the development of a true winged airplane by the creation of something as little as a paper airplane doesn’t sound too settling. Although technology has made the design and development of airplanes much easier, knowing that they may have originated from an origami art seems almost impossible! However, the creation of the paper airplane continues to gain great respect and sophistication as years pass.